Ladder.



No. 827,048. PATENTEDJULY 24, 1906.- w. A. TRUESDBLL.

LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11, 1906.

witnesses UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. TRUESDELL, OF CANTON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO GEORGE H. TRUESDELL.

LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 24, 1906.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. TRUES- DELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ladders, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

This invention is a combination extension and step ladder or trestle, and has for its object to provide an improved construction of the kind comprising a ladder formed in sections slidable with respect to each other to form an extension-ladder and also connected by a pivotal device having a stop by means of which the sections can be set at an angle to each other to form a step-ladder.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view showing the side pieces or bars on one side in elevation. Fig. 2 is a detail in elevation, viewed from the outside, of the top ends of the sections when they are set at an angle to form a step ladder. Fig. 3 is a detail in elevation, partly broken away, showing in full lines the stop device set or swung out to support the parts when used as a step-ladder and showing in dotted lines the position of the same when used as an extension-ladder. Fig. 4 is a detail in elevation, showin the retaining and pivot piece at the top of t e lower section for guiding and holding the upper section.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 6 indicates the side bars of the upper section. At the top the bars 6 are strengthened by metal plates 8 on both the inner and the outer sides thereof, and secured to each bar on the inner side thereof by a pivot-bolt 9 is a retaining member or strap 10, having at the ends inwardly-extending flanges 11. The side bars 7 of the lower sections fit loosely between the flanges 11 and are slidable up and down therebetween, the flanges serving to guide the movement and to retain the lower section in position. A hook to support the upper section in adjusted position is indicated at 12, being pivoted at 13 to a fixture on one of the side bars of the upper section and arranged to engage over the rounds of both sections, as shown in Fi 1. A pivoted latch 14 serves to close the hoo ,so that it will not engage the rounds when not desired, as when sliding along upper section down the lower section to contract the ladder.

At its upper end each side bar 7 of the lower section has a recess 15 under a plate 16, and pivoted within this recess by a bolt 17 is a swinging stop 18, consisting of a bar of such length that when swung in one position its ends will project beyond the edges of the side bars 7 in position to support the strap 11, as shown in Fig. 2. The recess 15 is of such shape that the stop-bar 18 may be swung in,

so that its ends will not roject, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. n this position it is inactive and does not interfere with the upand-down movement of the lower ladder-section in the strap 11.

The bar 18 is manipulated by a button 19 on an arm 20, projecting from the bar and working in a slot 21 in the face-plate 16. When swung out, the bar 18 stops against a shoulder 22.

In ordinary use as an extension-ladder the stop-bar 18 is swung in and is inactive. When it is desired to set up the ladder-sections as a step ladder or trestle, the bar 18 is swung out and the strap 11 rests thereon. The pivot 9 permits the sections to be set at any angle desired, and the weight at the joint of the sections is supported by the strap 11, resting on the bar 18.

I claim 1. The combination with two ladder-sec I tlons, one section having a recess at the top thereof, of a stop-piece movable in or out of said recess, and a retaining and guide mem ber pivoted to the other section and arranged to rest upon the stop when it is extended.

2. The combination with two ladder-sections, one section having a recess in the upper end of the side bar thereof, of a stop-piece pivoted in said recess to swing its ends in or out of the same, and a retaining and guide strap pivoted to the other section and constructed to engage the first-mentioned section and to rest upon the ends of the stop when they are extended.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM A. TRUESDELL.

Witnesses:

JESSIE A. GORDON, ELIZABETH J. PRICE 

